In Plymouth, County Commissioners continue their negotiations with Boston South Development on the lease agreement for the use of the woodlot which was expected to be signed—but was not—in executive session at their meeting on Wednesday, June 29.
The first payment to the Commissioners is due Friday, July 1.
Bobbi Clark has more:
Commissioner Jared Valanzola explains:
“As with any negotiations, sometimes certain items come up that require a little more time and attention than we originally thought, we had had a soft deadline of today to hopefully sign–June 29, June 30th. Certainly we’re willing to move that a little bit so that way we can settle some of the few remaining items that are outstanding.”
Valanzola says the current agreement with Boston South Development…
“…calls for $250,000 beginning year one, July 1st, $150,000, July 1, 2023, and then a $100,000 July 1, 2024.”
Plymouth Town Meeting Member, and retired attorney Rich Serkey’s research shows that under existing law, a horse track/gambling facility cannot be located on the woodlot because of the Plymouth Select Board’s letter of opposition to it.
Also, a recent non-binding ballot question showed the majority of residents against the idea. And the state does not go against the wishes of a proposed host community.
Valanzola’s response:
“I mean I can’t really speculate on that. I think that the developer, as we said all along is going through that due diligence process and should the developer find that that law is indeed interpreted correctly, by Mr. Serkey, then they’re going to have to react to that—as will we.”
A meeting scheduled for June 30 at 5:30 p.m. has been cancelled and the next scheduled meeting of the County Commissioners is July 7.
